heart cold as ice? nope..he's a melter i have found.

I had a nice little chat yack with my aunt tonite about my grandfather who will be turning 90 March 2. As I was talking to her and asking questions about his life she in returned to proceed to ask the questions about her father to her husband, Wayne. Made me smile and chuckle to myself.

Some time ago I wrote a blog about my Aunt Renee and I mentioned her hubby and how I would be bloggin about just him soon...well it has been much longer than soon but I am doing it now...Wayne Maruska...

Growing up I was scared to death of him. He reminded me of what people that I felt who lived in Russia or Germany. He was strict and stern. Military to the very core and brought that structure to his work and life. He was never mean to me growing up but yet I never gave him a chance to show me different until later on in life. Paul tended to act the same on this with me. We always behaved and did what he told us to NO QUESTIONS asked... Jacorian however didn't have one ounce of fear in his body for this man we called Uncle Wayne...so when Wayne would tell him to do this or that and he didn't...Paul and I thought for sure that would be the end of Jacorian...turns out Jacorian saw the true being that Wayne really was. He saw right past everything that I was scared of or unsure of and found this amazing guy. I am pretty sure my brother had no clue about this gift that he had...he was just your typical little redheaded devil! He didn't fear anyone...

I am not sure when my relationship and view changed of my Uncle Wayne. Maybe when I was mature enough to fully see all of who he truly is and not just certain sides. But I know this I am so glad I did...because he is hands down one of the most amazing guys I know. He seemed at times cold and tough but the very truth is he is warm and kind and full of love. A heart that was cold as ice couldn't be further from the truth...he's a melter for sure. He is wise educated and full of knowledge. The kind of person you would make sure you used as a life line on a trivia show...that kind of smart.

Just like all of us in life he has changed and grown more into his own skin over the years. He has shown his love and kindness more and more over the years. He has smiled and laughed more and more than I ever remember him doin when I was little but like I said I didn't fully see who he was for some time. He has taken the time to truly get to know me and my life outside of being a Goldmann and his niece. He truly cares for me as a person and yet he has that connection with all in my family. He has been understanding patient and has shown compassion with my grandmother when she was still with us but more importantly with my grandfather a man who forgets in some ways more than he remembers. A man who is stubborn and wants to do things his way and remain independent. Wayne has never belittled him and has always found ways to help Gramps out without taking away his pride. He has been just hands down amazing to Gramps. He has helped my Aunt Renee the most during the time my grandmother was sick and the passing of Granny. And now with Gramps-Renee has a lot on her shoulders and Wayne has always been there so she doesn't have to face it alone. As well as lighten the load for her...the two of them together is a very fitting pair if you ask me. They are just great together, they laugh together and dance together and just get each other in a special way.

He is a man of true strength. A man who stands by his word. A man who remains calm in chaos. A man who is in control and has found a new way of bringing structure when teaching right or wrong and yes or no.. instead of in the form of fear. I have yet to figure out if he changed and who I saw him as a child was who he was OR has he always been this amazing person and I had to change to see him? But I think in the end life has changed us both and thru that change it has brought us to where we are now. I know my life is more well rounded because I have been given this gift of being able to call this man Uncle Wayne...we don't realize just how much a person's life affects another! Just what we are missing if that person is taken out of our lives. Or in my case just what I had been missing all of those years when I thought I knew him.

His life example has spoke volumes to me about living life. He can be at times a man of many words on certain topics but when it comes to the stuff he holds in his soul he is a man of few words but I have always known his love and kindness. I have always felt everything he has ever wanted to say in his hugs. In his smiles and in his laughter. And really words are over-rated...meaning lies in action...something my Uncle Wayne has never failed to show or do. I thank my aunt for bringing such a great guy into our family. I can't imagine what life would be like without him. And to my Uncle Wayne thank you for being such a focused and centered person-someone I know who will always be there... For being such a kind uncle. And above all being way way more of the uncle I never saw you as for so long and way way less of the uncle I thought you were. You are hard core as in a hard core great uncle.